Spring-needle knitting machine and method of producing fabric thereon



Oct. 14 1924.

F. E. JONES SPRING NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC THEREON Filed March 4:, 922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l nveni'or Fr azwEyEiJowJes, f 713 W 0 ga Z8.

Oct. 14 1924.

F. E. JONES SPRING NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC THEREON Filed March 4, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n /4 l9 5 4e 5 48 5/ 6 5 6 V 6 r 3: 5 a: 5 2O 5/ 2a y C, 5 1, 35 5 as n z I "33 1 lnvenio r aniv E J0 21/ 65 E all I W M W Oct. 14 1924. 1,511,997

F. E. JONES SPRING NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC THEREON Filed March 4, 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 49 as I 42 A as 89 4 o I .L 11' I o 4 a a /8 4 I uulll |;|:ly////////// .50 III .52

Invnior Eank E'.Jow/es,

F. E. JONES SPRING NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING FABRIC THER EON Filed March 4:, I922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Iii/218713 07 Raw/fill". Jones,

Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

- UNITED STATES 1,511,997 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E JONES. CFPAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB TO HEMPEILL COH- IANY, CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION. OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial No. 541,053.

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. onns,

a needle and the web holder pertaining thereto at three difirent representative poa' citizen of the United States, and a resi- \sitions; and

dent of Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have 1nvented an Improvement in Spring-Needle Knitting Machines and Methods of Producing Fabric Thereon, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, 1s aspecification,

like characters on the drawings representlike parts knitting machines, and more particularly to hosiery spring needle knitting machines for plating yarn, and to the method of producing plated fabric thereon.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understoo-d,- l have 1n the accompanying drawings disclosed a single embodiment of. the mechanism of my invention. and by which the method thereof may be practised.

In said drawings Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a clrcu lar knitting machine embodying my invention and by which my method may-be practised;

Fig. 2- is a plan view of the sinker cam rim and closely related parts;

Big. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sinker cam ring but with the top of the rin removed so as to, show the cams and the we holders;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section upon the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section upon the line 6-6 of Fig.2;

Fig. .7 is a vertical section upon the line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a plan view upon a larger scale than Fig. 4 of the cams of the sinker cam ring and certain of the web holders, needles and pressers as positioned for rotary knitting;

Fig. 9 is a development of the needles shown in Fig.8 and indicating the feed of the yarn or yarns thereto in circular knittin P ig. 10 is a perspective View of the series of needles and web holders as positioned for rotary knitting, together with the body yarn and the plating yarn from the yarn fin ers to the knitting point;

igs. 11, 12 and 13 are side elevations of 's invention relates to spring needle- Fig-14 is a side elevation of a hose or stocking knitted in plated work.

This invention relates particularly to circular knitting machines for knitting hosiery, and more especially to spring needle knitting machines wherein a main and a secondary yarn are fed to the needles at predetermined times, as for example, a main or body yarn and a plating yarn which are fed to the needles during the knitting of the leg and the foot of the stocking or hose, and also to the hereinafter described method of producing plated knit fabric. Obviously the principle of my invention may be employed so far as certain aspects thereof are concerned, if a single yarn only be fed or if a second yarn other than what is technically known as a plating yarn be fed.

have chosen to illustrate my invention as applied to a circular knitting machine of the so-called Banner type. Such a machine is disclosed in the patent to Joshua D. Hemphill, No. 933,443, dated Sept. 7, 1909. The machine of the said patent is therein represented as having latch needles. The machine herein disclosed is of the same general character so far as the knitting cams, the widening and narrowing pickers and man of the cooperating parts are concerned, ut the head of the machine is changed so as to adapt it to the use of spring beard needles with individual pressers. One type of such spring needle machine is shown in the patent to George P. Boszworth, No. 1,235,545, dated August 7, 191

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, the framing of the machine is indicated generally at 1. The driving shaft is indicated at 2 it being similar to that shownv in the said llemrphill patent. Suitably supported in the framing is the shaft 3 whereon suitable drums or disks and ratchet wheels are mounted as more fully disclosed in the said Hemphill patent, together with the usual endless pattern chain not herein shown and the cooperating parts which need not be more fully described. The.

post or support 7 whereon are suitably supported the partial ringor member carrying the am fingers, the thread binder, 'etc., which as they may be and preferably are similar to those of the spring needle Banner machine need not be further described otherwise than to state that in practice a plurality of yarn fingers are provided for supplying a suitable number of yarns and preferably a main yarn for the leg of the stocking, a se arate yarn for the heel and toe, and anot er yarn for lated work. In addition other yarns may used, if desired. In Fig. 10, I have indicated two yarn fingers 8 and 9, the am 10 fed from the yarn finger 8 being t e heavy or cotton yarn which is to appear upon the inside of the fabric and the yarn 11 from the yarn finger 9 being the lighter or plating yarn which is preferably silk. Greater tension is imparted to the plating yarn 11 than to the main or body yarn 10, such tension being provided by the individual yarn tensioning means of the general character employed upon the so-called Banner machine between thebobbins and the yarn fingers and which need not be more fully described. The needles are indicated generally at 12 (Fig. 10) and the web holders are indicated figure. At 14 in igs. 2, 8 and elsewhere, I have indicated the individual needle pressers which are preferably of the general character disclosed in the patent to Geo. P. Bosworth, No. 1,235,545, dated Aug. 7, 1917. Attached to the needle cylinder 5 is a web holder bed ring 15 having the usual grooves 16 radially disposed with relation to the center of the needle cylinder, to receive reciprocating elements, herein web holders 13. I employ the term web holders throughout the specification as more accurately descriptive of the reciprocatory elements or instruments employed in the machine herein disclosed, but said term is not used in a restricted or limited sense because certain features of my invention and certain of the principles thereof may be employed in types of knitting machines having sinkers.

The needles 12 are raised and lowered in the usual loop forming manner by appropriate knitting cams not herein shown and which are desirably of the general type shown in the said patent to Joshua D. Hem -v hillf In some machines the reciprocating elements above referred to are' employed to sink the yarns between the stems of the needles when in their elevated position, while in other machines similar elements may be used for holding the web during the I raising of the needles to prevent said web from being elevated therewith particularly.

where no tension is applied to the knitted fabric. When such reciprocating elements are used, means are required to impart the necessary reciprocating movements thereto generally at 13 in the same tion the reciprocating elements are, as above stated, web holders 13 and said web holders are of any suitable design or form for engaging the work and holding the same during the raising of the needles to prevent said work bein carried upwardly thereby and also provi ing surfaces (namely, the upper edges of the lower nibs) over which the new yarn is measured for the loops in the descent of the needles. Said web holders, as is customary with such elements, are provided with operating butts 17 as indicated in the several views.

To reciprocate the said web holdersIh ave employed in the disclosed embodiment of the invention a cap ring generally indicated at 18 and comprising an outer ring like member 19 and an inner ring like member 20 shown most clearly in Fig.2, the inner member being concentric wlth the said outer member and engaging the same peripherally as indicated in said Fi 2 and for the purose clearly disclosed, he outer member 19 has an annular portion and the inner member 20 has a corresponding annular portion separated from that of the outer member by an annular groove indicated at 21 and within which the operating butts 17 of the web holders are arranged to project so that said butts may engage and be controlled by the opposed faces of the said members 19, 20.

The under faces of the said annular or ring like members lie substantially in the same plane, as indicated'in Figs. 5 and 6, and

are adapted} to engage the upper edges of.

the web holders and rest upon the corresponding upper face of the web holder bed ring 15, thus providing suitable support and guiding means for said ring. The outer margin of the ring 18 is extended downwardly as indicated at 22 in Figs. 5 and 6 below the upper edge of the webholder bed ring 18 and constitutes a guide for said cap ring, thus properly positioning the latter upon said bed ring. In knitting machines with which the present mechanism is more particularly adapted to be used, the needle carrier and the cams whiclrreciprocate the needles in the grooves of the needle cylinder are capable of relative rotary and reciprocatory movements and the mechanism for effecting these relative movements are well known to those skilled in the art; therefore no description or illustration thereof is believed to be necessary. They may be generally similar to those disclosed in the said and the reciprocating elements (herein web holders 13) and in the disclosed embodiment of the invention means are provided including a two armed bracket 23 shown most clearly in Fig. 2, attached to the said cap rin by screws 24. v

'I he said bracket 23 is provided with two arms 25, 26 which extend in substantially radial directions from the said cap ring, and support adjacent their outer ends adjustable set screws 27, 28. Said screws 27, 28 are arranged so as automatically to engage the 0st or upright 7 carried by the knitting mac ine frame and which as stated desirably constitutes the support for the yarn guide carrying member. Said post or upright 7 being carried by a part not moving with the needle cylinder 5, creates a relative movement between the said cap ring and the said needle cylinder.

The positions of the screw 27 28 may be such as to permit a slight shogging movement of the cap ring to take place during reciprocations of the needle cylinder in a manner common to machines of the type herein disclosed.

When relative reciprocating movements are desired between the needle cylinder and the cap ring, as in the formation of flat webs, or heel and toe pockets, two sets of cams are usually employed for operating the web holders at the proper intervals to cooperate with the needles in the loop forming operations. Therefore in; the present embodiment of the invention two such sets of cams are provided, each set including a web holder advancing cam and a web holder retracting cam, said sets being suitably spaced to effect the movements of the web holders at the proper points in the knitting.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the retracting cam members are indicated at 29, 30 in Figs. 4 and 8. They are mounted upon the inner ring member 20. The advancing cam members are shown at 31, 32 in Fig. 4. They arecarried by the outer ring member 19. During the operation of the machine the said inner and outer ring members are caused to cooperate in their action by appropriate stops which herein consist of brackets 33,- 34, secured to one of said ring members, herein the outer ring members 19, and bearing adjusting screws 35, 36 arranged in opposed relation to engage opposite portions of an abutment 37 secured to the other ring member, herein the inner ring member 20. Obviously the said brackets 33, 34 may be positioned at any desiredpredetermined distances apart, so as to cause the screws 35, 36 to engage the abutment 37 when desired but herein said brackets are placed so close together that but very slight relative movement is permitted to take place between said ring members 19, 20. The retracting cams 29,

and 8), the cam member 30 being at all times fixed, but my invention is obviously not limited to such construction. The cam member 29 is, however, movable in and out,

being herein pivoted at the point 33 within a suitable gap or recess formed in the annular portion of the said inner ring 20, so that the thickness of the said cams 29, 30 will correspond to the depth of the annular groove, wherein the heels 17 of the web holders are received.

The outer ring member 19 is provided with a cam portion 38 which is preferably unbroken and substantially concentric from the more remote end of the advancing cam 31 to the corresponding end of the advancing cam 32 and between said cams 31, 32 is provided thedesirably concentric cam portion 39. The inner ring member 20 is provided with the concentric member or part 40 extending from the free end of the pivoted retracting cam member 29 to the corresponding end of the fixed retracting cam member 30. By reason of the retracting cam members 29, 30 the positions of the web holders may be changed relatively to the axis of the ring in the knitting operation.

I have stated that my invention is particularly applicable to knitting machines wherein a plating yarnis employed. The art of plating has been practised for a number of years with latch needles and attempts have been made 5 to plate with spring beard needles. So far as I am aware, however, the attempts to plate with spring beard needles have been restricted to cases wherein the yarns were supported between the yarn fingers and a point adjacent to the pressing point, upon the upper surfaces of yarn supporting members, and in addition means have been employed to act upon the yarns as by brushing the same in an attempt to position the yarns side by side, etc. In these cases the yarns have been so held or supported upon the upper surfaces of yarn supporting members as to be positively forced beneath or under the beards of the needles. This has disarranged the yarns and has disadvantageously efi'ected their relative positions so that as they pass off the upper surfaces of the yarn supporters, they do not with any uniformityoccupy thecorrect relative positions within the beards of the needles that is requisite to successful plating.

I have discovered that I may successfully plate with spring beard needles by maintaining the yarns wholly untouched and otherwise unsupported between the yarn finger or fingers and approximately the knitting or casting off point, and so that the said yarns occupy their proper and undisturbed relation within the beards of the needles at all times and including the casting ofl or knitting positions, the said yarns being maintained under substantiall the relative tensions hereinbefore indicate In order to accomplish this result I so act upon the web holders especially during rotary-knitting as to insure absence of contact or support between the web holders and the body and plating yarns as-above set forth.

For the main purpose of'the present invention-the positions of the web holders with respect to the needles during reciprocating knitting in both directions is immaterial since plating is not practised in the heels and toes of hosiery.. Therefore my invention particularly relates to the proper position ing of the body and plating yarns during and for rotary Work. Desirably, however,.

the position of the web holders during reciprocating knittingis such as to avoid trapping of the yarn at either end of the active needles, that is, next to the series of elevated or idle needles. Furthermore the shape of the web holders may be varied if desired, and my invention, so far as the use of web holders is concerned, is not restricted to a web holder of the form shown.

As clearly shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13,

each web holder 13 is provided with a lowerorweb holding shoulder or nib 41 and an upper nib 42. Said upper nib 42 does not,

act as a yarn supporter in any sense either in rotary. knitting or in reciprocating knitting. At the very knitting or casting off point the lowermost needle as indicated at 43 in Fig. 13, draws the yarn down over the lower nib 41 of the web holder next thereto in a manner that is old and well known in latch needle practice, (measuring the yarn for the new loops) but the next web holder is not touched bythe yarn, and

the upper nibs 42 of the web holders do not any of them support the yarn nor serve to force the same under the beards of the needles, as is clearly evident from the perspective view, Fig. 10, and the side elevations in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. In said Fig. 10, there may be generally stated to be three positions of the needles, namely, those indicated at the bracket X, the bracket XX and the bracket XXX, the said positions corresponding generally to those indicated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. Fig. 11 indicates the highest position of the needle and the position of the web holder 13 when the needle is at its highest position. Fig. 12 indicates the needle at the intermediate position or is drawn back so that the yarn cannot and nibs 42 thereof is effected by the movable retracting cam 29. 'In the disclosed emdiodiment of the invention, the said cam 29 is pivoted at 33, but within the scope-and purpose of the invention the cam may be moved in any suitable manner in and out at the times herein disclosed for moving the illustrated cam 29 upon its pivot. As shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 'I have pivoted at 44 upon the outer sinker canrring 19 a lever 45. Forming an .integral part of said lever or attached thereto is a projection 46. In the present embodiment of the invention the projection 46 is formed of a separate thin plate and is fixedly secured by screws 47 to the lever 45, there being a hook or projection 48 extending inwardly from the lever 45 and positioned thereby. All of said parts may, if desired, be formed integrally. The hook 48 is adapted periodically. to be positioned in the path of movement of a screw or other upward projection 49. A spring 50 is employed tending normally to force the lever 45 inward. The said spring is secured by screw 51 tothe vertical face of the outer ring 19 and at its inner end it bears upon the parts 45,46. Preferably a screw 52 is employed to limit the inward motion of the lever 45 and the parts connected thereto. The screw or projection 49 is connected'to the movable retracting cam 29, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, and extends through a short substantially radial slot in the sinker cam ring 20. Therefore, the inward movement of the lever 45 effects the inward movement of the retracting cam 29 and conversely the outward movement of the lever 45 effects the outward movement of said retracting cam 29.

The construction is such that at and for the commencement of rotary knitting, the lever 45 is moved so as to move outwardly the retracting cam 29, and thus so to position the web holders 13 that the upper nibs 42 do not contact with the yarn in rotary knitting. v

Desirablythere is no contact of the" infeeding yarn with the said upper nibs during reciprocating knitting that could resalt in supporting the yarnor forcing the portant, so far as my present invention is concerned, which particularly relates to the positioning of said web holders for rotary knitting, so that the yarn, or the main yarn, and the plating yarn, if the latter be employed, are/fed from the yarn finger or fingers to --the needles without contact or support by the upper nibs of the Web holders.

In order to position the cam 29 at and for the commencement of rotary knitting as described, I may employ any suitable mechanism. Preferably, however, I provide an abutment 53 which is adapted at the commencement of rotary knitting to be moved inwardly against the side of the standard or upright 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose the said abutment is carried by a lever pivoted at 54; and having a short arm 55 to the end of which is connected a link or rod 56 extending downward and connected at 57 to a lever 58 pivoted at 59 upon the frame of the machine and normally drawn upward at its outer end by a coiled spring 60 connected to said lever at 61 and to a suitable bracket upon the frame at 62. The opposite end of said lever 58 is provided with a toe 63 which is adapted to bear upon a drum 64:

upon the shaft 3. The said drum 64 is provided with suitable cams, such as the cam 65 for the heel and the cam 66 for the toe. During the formation of the heel and the toe of the stocking, the. toe 63 of the lever 58 is lifted and hence through the described connections the abutment 53 is withdrawn from the position shown in Fi 2.

it the commencement of and. throughout circular work, however, the abutment occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, and hence at the commencement of circular work, as the screw 28 approaches the standard 7,. the member 46 engages said abutment, with the result that the lever 45 is moved slightly upon its pivot 44, thereby swinging the retracting cam 29 slightly outward for the purpose stated.

It will be evident that the hook &8 is so positioned as to receive the screw 49 as the cam ring member 20 moves in a contraclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2. At other times the screw 49 is not engaged by the hook 4:8. I

It will be clear from the foregoing description that I have provided means whereby the method of my invention may be practiced and whereby a single yarn, if but a single yarn be employed, or whereby the mainyarn and a reenforcing yarn, and particularly the main yarn and the plating yarn, may be fed to the needles without support by the web holders and in undisturbed relation, so that the plating yarn will invariably appear upon the outer face of the fabric and the main or body yarn upon the inner face thereof.

I have shown the main and body plating v each other, substantially as indicated in Fig.

10 and are fed side by side to the needles.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that in the disclosed and preferred embodiment of my invention, the yarnor yarns are not sunk between the needles, since no sinkers are employed, the yarn or yarns being laid against the shanks or stems of the needles.

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention and the best method known to me for practising the same, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms ar employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the sco 'e of the invention being setforth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. That method of effecting plated work in rotary plain knitting with spring beard needles which comprises, feeding a main yarn and a plating arn below the beards of a single series 0 spring beard needles without sinking it between said needles, drawing the yarn for the new loops, pressing said beards and holding the lmitted web from displacement, and maintaining through web holder control said yarns from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially the needles at the casting off point, out of contact with instrumentalities other than said needles and so as to be received below the beards thereof, whereby the relative positions of said yarns remain unimpaired and whereby the main yarn is accurately delivered to and forms the inside of, the plain knitted web and the plated yarn is accurately delivered to and form the outside of the said plain knitted web.

2. That method of effecting plated work in rotary plain knitting with spring beard needles which comprises, feeding a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beards of a single series of spring beard needles without sinking it between said needles, drawing the yarn for the new loops, pressing said beards and holding the knitting web from displacement, and maintaining said yarns side by side from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially the needles at the casting ofl point, out of contact, through web holder control, with instrumentalities other than said needles and so as to be received below the beards thereof, whereby the relative positions of said yarns remain unimpaired and whereby the main yarn is accurately delivered to and forms the inside of the plain knitted web and the plated yarn is accurately delivered to and forms the outside ofthe said plain knitted web.

3. That method of effecting plated work in rotary plain knitting with spring beard needles which comprises, feeding a main yarn and a plating yarn to a single series of spring beard needles Without sinking it between said needles, drawing the yarn for the new loops, pressing said cards, imparting greater tension to theplating yarn than to the main yarn, holding the knitted web from displacement and maintaining said yarns side by side from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially the needles at the casting off point, out of contact, through web holder control, with instrumentalities other than said needles and so as to be received below the beards thereof, whereby the relative positions of said yarns remain unimpaired and whereby the main yarn is accurately delivered to and forms the inside of the knitted web and the plated yarn is accurately delivered to and forms the outside of the knitted web.

4. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder or sinker 'cam ring having inner and outer ring members capable of relative circumferential movement, retracting and advancing cams carried thereby, a, circular series of web holders or sinkers all acted upon by said cams, andmeans automatically to impart in and out movements to a retracting cam of said cam ring, while maintaining said retracting cam in web-holder-operative radial position, thereby varying the 'Web-holder-operativ'e radial position of said retracting cam.

5. A circularknitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder or sinker cam ring having inner and outer ring members capable of relative circumferential movement, retracting and advancing cams carried thereby, web holders or sinkers all acted upon y said cams, and means automatically to vary the web-holder-operative radial position of a retracting cam of said cam ring thereby to vary the retracted operative position of said instrumentalities.

6. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder or sinker cam ring having inner and outer ring members capable of relative circumferential movement, retracting and advancing cams carried thereby, web holders or sinkers acted upon by said cams, and means automatically to place a retracting cam in different radial positions respectively for rotary knitting and" reciprocating knitting.

7. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder orsinker cam ring having inner and outer ring members capable of relative circumferential movement, retracting and advancing cams carried thereby, web holders or sinkers acted upon by said cams, and means automatically to place a retractin cam further outward for rotary work whlle maintaining it in webholder-operative position.

8. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder or sinker cam ring having inner and outer ring members capable of relative circumferential movement, a pair of retracting cams and a pair of advancing cams, one pair being carried by the inner ring member and the other pair by the outer ring member, web holders or sinkers acted upon by said cams, and means automatically to vary the position of a retracting cam of said cam ring.

therefor, individually movable web holders therefor having lower web holding nibs and upper nibs, cams to advance and to retract said needles and web holders to effect the formation of knitted loops, means to feed a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beardsof the needles for the production ofplated work, and positively acting means so to position the web holders for functioning as such in holding the web in fotary work that both of said yarns are out of contact with said upper nibs of the web holders from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially the casting off point while preserving a web-holder-operative radial position, where by the relative position of the said yarns is not disturbed by said upper nibs.

11. A rotary spring needle knitting machine having a single series of indii'iduaL ly movable spring beard needles, pressers therefor, individually movable'web holders therefor having lower web holding nibs and upper nibs, cams to advance and to retract said needles and web holders to effect the the production of plated work,--and positively acting means so to position th'eweb holders for functioning as such in holdin the web in rotary work that both of sai yarns are out of contact with said upper nibs of the web holders from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially the casting ofl' point, while preserving a webholder-operative radial position, whereby the relative position of the said yarns 1s not disturbed by said upper nibs.

12. A rotary spring needle knitting machine having a single series of individually movable spring beard needles, pressers therefor, individually movable web holders therefor having lower web holding nibs and upper nibs, cams to advance and to retract said needles and including a retracting cam movable in and out, thereby to vary the inward projection of the web holders, means to feed side by side a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beards of the needles for the production of plated work, and positively acting means so to move the movable web holder retracting cam that while said 'web holders function as such in holding the Web for rotary work both of said yarns are out of contact with said upper nibs of the web holders from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially the casting off point while preserving a webholder-operative radial position, whereby the relative position of said yarns is not disturbed by said upper nibs.

13. A rotary spring needle knitting machine havinga single series of individually movable spring beard needles, pressers therefor, individually movable web holders therefor having lower web holding nibs and upper nibs, cams to advance and retract the needles, cams to advance and retract the web holders and including an automatically movable web holder retracting cam, means to feed side by side a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beards of the needles for the production of plated work, and means automatically to position said web holder retracting cam for rotary work so that while said web holders function as such turbed by said upper nibs.

14. A rotary spring needle knitting machine having a single series of individually movable spring beard needles, pressers therefor, individually movable web holders therefor having lower web holding nibs and upper nibs, cams to advance and retract said needles, cams to advance and retract said web holders and including a web holding retractin cam movable in and out, means to fee a main yarn and a plating yarn side by side below the beards of the needles for the production of plated work, and means to move said movable web holder retracting cam outward at and for the commencement of rotary work, so that while said web holders function as such in holding the web during rotary work both said yarns are out of contact with the upper nibs of the said web holders from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially the casting off point while preserving a webholder-operative radial position, whereby the relative position of the said yarns is not disturbed by said upper nibs.

15. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a. web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and retracting cams for the web holders ,or sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to withdraw "the said instrumentalities from contact with the infeeding yarn and means for effecting the in and out movement of said cam and including a lever, and means for automatically engaging said lever to position the same.

16. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and .retracting cams for the web holders or sifikers, a retracting cam of said cams being movzible outwardly far enough to withdraw the said instrumentalities from contact with the infeeding yarn and means for effecting said in and out movement including an abutment, means acting automatically to move the same periodically into position to be engaged, and a member operatively connected to said in and out movable cam and adapted to engage said abutment.

17. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and retracting cams for the web holders or sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to Withdraw the said instrumentalities from contact with the infeeding yarn and means for effecting said in and out movement, said means including a lever adapted to be operatively engaged with said cam, an abutment to be engaged by said lever, and means acting automatically for periodically moving said abutment.

18. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and retracting cams for the web holders or sinkers, one of said cams being movable in and out, and means for effecting said in and out movement and ineluding a projection from said movable;

v cam, a hook adapted to be positioned perihook adapted periodically to be positioned to engage said projection, a lever carrying said hook, an abutment to be engaged by saidlever, and vmeans for periodically moving said abutment.

20. A circular knitting machine having independent needles and operating means therefor, a supporting bed and an overlying cam ring for web holders or sinkers, said cam ring having inner and outer ring members capable of relative circumferential movement, retracting and advancing cams respectively carried thereby, web holders or sinkers acted upon by said cams, and means to vary the position of a retracting cam of said cams with respect to the ring by which said variably positioned cam is directly carried sufficiently to withdraw the web holders or sinkers wholly from the infeeding yarn while at the same time permitting them to continue to function to hold down the web during rotary work.

21. A rotary spring needle knitting machine having a single series of individually movable spring beard needles pressers therefor, individually movable web holders therefor having lower web holding nibs and upper nibs, cams to advance and to retract said needles and web holders to effect the formation of knitted loops, yarn feeding means to feed the yarn beneath the beards of said needles and positively acting means to position the web holders for rotary work so that the feeding yarn is out of contact with said upper nibsof the web holders from the yarn feeding member to substantially the casting off point while at the same time the said web holders or sinkers continue to function to hold down the web during rotary work.

22. That method of efiecting plated work in rotary plain knitting upon a single series of spring beard needles which comprises, feeding a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beards of a single series of spring beard needles without sinking it between them, drawing the yarn for the new loops, and holding the knitted web from displacement, and maintaining said yarns from the yarn feeding member or members to substantially theneedles at the casting off point, out of contact with instrumentalities other than said needles while .preserving them under the beards of said needles and while continuing to hold the knitted web from dis-' single series of individually movable spring beard needles, pressers therefor, individually movable Web holders therefor having lower web holdin -nibs and upper nibs, cams to advance an to retract said needles and web holders to effect the formation of knitted loops, yarn feeding means ositioned to feed the yarn beneath the bear s of said needles, and positively acting means so to position the web holders while continuing their web holding functions for rotary work that the feeding yarn is out of contact with said upper nibs of the web holders from the yarn feeding member to substantiallythe casting off point.

24. A circular knitting machine having independent spring beard needles and 0 erating means therefor, including indivi ual pressers, means to feed a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beards of the spring beard needles, a web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and retracting cams for the web holdersor sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to withdraw the said web holders or sinkers from contact with both the main yarn and the planting yarn while preserva web-holder-operative radial position, and means for effecting the said in and out movement of said retracting cam and ineluding a lever, and means for automatically engaging said lever to position the same.

25. A circular knitting machine having independent spring beard needles and operating means therefor including individual pressers, means to introduce a main yarn and 'a plating yarn beneath the beards of said needles a web holder or sinker cam ring for advancing and retracting cams for the web holders or sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to withdraw said web holders or and a plating yarn beneath the beards of said needles, a web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and retracting cams for the web holders or sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to withdraw the said web holders or sinkers from contact with the infeeding yarn while preserving a web-holder-operative, radial position, and means for effecting said in and out movement, said means including a lever adapted to be operatively engaged with said cam, an abutment to be engaged by said lever, and means for periodically moving said abutment.

27. A circular knitting machine having independent spring beard needles and operating means therefor including individual pressers, a web holder or sinker cam ring having inner and outer ring'members capable of relative circumferential movement, means to feed a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beards of spring beard needles, said ring members having advancing and retracting cams for the web holders or sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to withdraw the side web holders or sinkers from contact with both the main yarn and the plating yarn while preserving a web-holderoperative radial position, and means for effecting the said in and out movement of said retracting cam including a lever, and means for automatically engaging said lever to position the same.

28. A circular knitting machine having 'independent spring beard needles and operating means therefor, including individual pressers, means to feed a main yarn and a plating yarn below the beards of the spring beard needles, a web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and retracting cams for the web holders or sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to withdraw the said web holders or sinkers from contact with both the main yarn and the plating yarn while preserving a web-holder-operatlve radial positionfand means for effecting the said in and out movement of said retracting cam.

29. A circular knitting machine having independent spring beard needles and operating means therefor, including individual ressers, means to feed a main yarn and a plating yarn side by side below the beards of the spring beard needles, a web holder or sinker cam ring having advancing and retracting cams for the web holders or sinkers, a retracting cam of said cams being movable outwardly far enough to withdraw the said web holders or sinkers from contact with both the main yarn and the plating yarn while preserving a web-holder-operative radial position, and means for effecting the said in and out movement of said retracting cam, whereby the main and plating yarns are out of contact with all parts of the mechanism from the feeding element to approximately the knitting point.

30. That method of effecting plated work in rotary, plain knitting with spring beard needles which comprises feedin a main yarn and a plating yarn below e beards of a single series of spring beard needles without sinking said yarns between the needles, drawing the yarn for the new loops, pressing said beards, holding the knitted web from displacement, positively positioning the Web holders or sinkers in web holder functioning position for rotary work while maintaining said yarns from the yarn feeding members to substantially the needles at the casting off point out of contact with instrumentalities otherthan said needles, and so as to be received below the beards thereof, whereby the relative position of the said yarns remain unimpaired, and whereby the main yarn is accurately delivered to and forms the'inside of the plain knitted web and the completed yarn is accurately delivered to and forms the outside of the plain knitted web.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK E. J ONE-S. 

